Miscellaneous Intelligence Reports by the 3rd Battalion Intel Group Hunters-ROTC - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Miscellaneous Intelligence Reports by the 3rd Battalion Intel Group Hunters-ROTC - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Miscellaneous Intelligence Reports by the 3rd Battalion Intel Group Hunters-ROTC

[TRANSCRIPTION]

The Intelligence Group, 3rd Batallion, 49th Regiment, 47th Division is an affiliate of the Hunters-ROTC guerrilla organization commanded by Eleuterio Adevoso and one of the largest outfits that operated in Southern Luzon during the Japanese occupation and subsequent liberation. This intelligence group operated from the then-town of Lipa and was commanded by one Jose Alex Katigbak. In this page is a collection of miscellaneous transcriptions1 submitted by the Intel Group on Japanese military activities in parts of Batangas during the liberation period.
Guerrilla Files jpeg
[p. 1]

[Report 1]

UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS
ATTACHED TO THE 6TH U.S. ARMY
3rd Bn. Headquarters

Japanese Military Area, Malarayat Range, Lipa.

These barrios are included in this area:

1. Suloc, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, San Luis, Lumbang, Dagatan, Guinting, Talisay, Sapac, and Bubuyan.

2. Included within this area but up to the present time not yet occupied by the Japs are San Francisco, San Lucas, Bungliw, Bugtong, Inosloban, Marauoy, and Balagbag.

ALL THESE BARRIOS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED BY FILIPINOS AND MOST THROUGH BOMBING OF THOSE AREAS OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY IS HEREBY URGED.

These barrios are not included in the Malarayat military area, but they are occupied by the enemy:

1. Sabang
2. Latag
3. Anilao
4. Antipolo
5. Tibig (no confirmation of previous report.)

These places have been evacuated by Filipinos and a most thorough bombing of each of them is urged.

1. More Japanese soldiers arrived in Lipa during the past week.
2. They are quartered in Sabang, in civilian houses located in the back streets.

1. Barbed wires have been installed from the grounds of the Lipa market to the blown up bridge of the barrio of Balintiouak [Balintawak].
2. Another anti-aircraft gun has been reported installed between the Rose Packing Co. and the seminary building in Antipolo.

These barrios were raided by the Japanese during this week and their population, as in previous raids, were subjected to [the] most cruel methods of torture and killing: the houses were burned and the food and jewelry of the inhabitants looted.

Lodlod, Tambo, Pangao, Pinagkawitan, Banaybanay, Inosloban, San Lucas, Payapa, Makina, Dagatan, Balagbag and Bugtong.

From all these areas, cases of murder, robbery, and rape were reported committed by the Japanese.

February 23, 1945
Lipa, Batangas

[Sgd.] Alex Isagani
3rd Bn. S-2

[p. 2]

[Report 2]

UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS
ATTACHED TO THE 6TH U.S. ARMY


SPECIAL REPORT

Subject: Routes to the Japanese Military Area in the Malarayat Range, Lipa, Batangas

This military area has its center in Suloc, Santo Tomas, Batangas. Included in this area are the barrios of San Joaquin, San Luis, Santa Clara (all of Santo Tomas, Batangas) and the barrios of Lumbang, Bugtong, Guinting, Talisay, Bubuyan, and Sapac.

This area may be reached from the town of Alaminos, Laguna by first class road as far as the barrio of San Joaquin. From this barrio, the heart of the area may be penetrated by means of the unfinished Lipa-Guingting-Alaminos road.

From Santo Tomas, Batangas, a first class road reaches the barrio of San Joaquin, and from there an unfinished road reaches the center of the whole area.

The approach to the military area from Lipa is by means of the national highway as far as the barrio of Marauoy. From this barrio, a road branches off from the national road in a northeast direction to the barrio of Guinting.

From Guinting, the barrio of Lumbang is reached by trail to the north, and the barrios of Talisay, Bubuyan, and Sapac by another trail to the south.

There is a narrow road in Sabang which leads to the area through the barrios of Sabang, Munting Pulo, and Bubuyan and Sapac.

Another road from Lipa, branching off from the national road near the barrio of Inosloban in a northeast direction, lead to the barrio of Santa Clara, another important area in the Malarayat military area.

The invader coming from Batangas town may reach the Japanese military area in the Malarayat range without passing the town of Lipa, by traversing the plains where the present Japanese airfield in Lipa lies. This route will take the invader to the Lipa-Balete road in the barrio of Santo Toribio; from here, he will follow the route of the national highway again up to Inosluban, the proposed Lipa-Alaminos road to the barrio of Santa Clara.

(See also 2e, S-2 Report, February 23, 1945)


Lipa, Batangas
February 24, 1945

[Sgd.] Alex Isagani
3rd Bn. S-2

[p. 3]

[Report 3]

UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS

S-2 REPORT
From: February 26, 1945, 24:00 P.M.
To: February 27, 1945, 25:00 P.M.

3rd Battalion Headquarters
February 3, 1:00 P.M. [March?]

No. 5

Maps: Refer to the Map of Southern Luzon published by the Bureau of Coasts and the Geodetic Survey, Manila, 1936, and to the sketch map of the town of Lipa.

1. The enemy is preparing his defenses in the Malarayat Mountains and also in Anilao Hill.
2. a. In the town of Lipa, there are approximately 100 Japanese soldiers stationed in residential houses and in the buildings of the Lipa public school. In the Rose Packing Co., there are approximately 250. In Anilao and in Antipolo, there are 80. In Latag, there are 80. In Sabang, there are approximately 200. In Sapac and in Bubuyan, there are approximately 400. In Dagatan, there are 100. In Talisay, there are approximately 300. Those that were in San Benito and in San Celestino have been transferred to Tiaong and to the Malarayat Area. There are a few soldiers stationed in the gasoline depot in Bulacnin. There are no more soldiers in Mataasnakahoy. There are some in the airfield guarding the un-transported supplies there. There are no more Japanese soldiers in San Juan except for a few who are there to look after their communication lines. In Rosario, there are only 30 stationed there to keep the guerrillas in order.
In Santo Tomas, the concentration of the Japanese is great in the barrio of Santa Clara and in the barrios of Suloc or Santa Cruz. In Suloc, there are approximately 3000 soldiers. In San Joaquin, there are 100. In Santa Clara, there are 1000. There is a radio station in Lipa; there is another in the barrio school of Antipolo. There is also a radio station in the public school buildings in the barrio of San Joaquin, Santo Tomas, Batangas. The men in San Joaquin, Santo Tomas, Batangas belong to the medical corps. Those in Santa Clara and in Suloc are of the infantry; those in Lumbang, of the infantry; those in Dagatan, of the infantry; those in Talisay, of the infantry and artillery; and those in Sapac of the infantry and artillery.
b. The unit that arrived in Sabang is under Major Tanabe [unreadable follows] in the barrios of San Joaquin and Santa Clara are under [unreadable follows] Ojara. (Reports on this point are still incomplete.)

[p. 4]

[Report 4]

UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS OR ROTC GUERRILLAS

SPECIAL REPORT

1. Three United States planes raided the town of Lipa last Sunday. They strafed the 10 de Junio Street and the market place. One Japanese truck was destroyed, and three Filipino civilians were killed.

2. The biggest depot of fuel gasoline of the Japanese in Lipa located in Bulacnin was raided this morning by 7 United States planes. Several hits were scored. Several columns of black smoke were seen rising from the raided area.

3. Our agent stationed in the Malarayat Area reported that General Yamashita visited Suloc last Thursday. Whether he has left or not has not yet been reported.

4. A ranking intelligence officer of the Japanese Army was also reported as having arrived in the Malarayat Area last week.

5. Three 165 mm. artillery guns were taken to the Malarayat Area last Wednesday. They were removed from the Lipa Hill defenses.

6. The Japanese Military Police continues to be active against the guerrillas in Lipa.

[p. 5]

[Report 5]

SPECIAL REPORT

Subject: Japanese Defenses in the Malarayat Area.

From the movements of Japanese troops and supplies in this sector, it appears that the army is concentrating the main bulk of its troops and fighting power in the Malarayat Area.

Its essential supplies are being secretly moved from many points in this sector to this area.

The defenses of Lipa or Anilao Hill have been weakened by the transfer of three (3) 105 mm. artillery guns last Wednesday night. These guns were taken to the Malarayat Area. The personnel of the Lipa Hill defenses were correspondingly depleted.

The main concentration in the Malarayat Area is located in the barrio of Suloc (Santa Cruz), Santo Tomas, Batangas. There are approximately 3,000 officers and men in this barrio. In San Joaquin, there are approximately 100. In Santa Clara, there are 1000. Santa Clara and San Joaquin are barrios of Santo Tomas, Batangas. In Lumbang, Lipa, Batangas, there are approximately 200 Japanese soldiers occupying all houses on the road from Lumbang to Suloc. In Sapac and Bubuyan, there are approximately 400. In Dagatan, there are approximately 100. In Talisay, there are approximately 300. The troops stationed in San Benito and in San Celestino have moved out, a portion going to Tiaong, Tayabas, and a portion going to the Malarayat Area.

Lumbang, which lies directly west of Suloc, was ordered completely evacuated by the Japanese Army authorities on the night of Tuesday last [week?]. The order was effective immediately.

The Malarayat Area is accessible from Alaminos, Laguna; and from Santo Tomas, Tanauan, Malvar, Lipa, and Rosario, Batangas.

The area is approachable from Alaminos by roads and by trails. From Santo Tomas, Tanauan, Malvar and Lipa, this area is approachable also by [sentence not completed]

The approach from Rosario not using the national highway will be difficult as the invader will traverse terrain broken by creeks and river beds.

The Malarayat Area dominates the entire national road from Tanauan to Lipa and perhaps beyond.

[Sgd.] Alex Isagani
3rd Bn. S-2

Notes and references:
1 “Intell Unit, 3rd Bn, 49th Regt, 47th Div, Hunters-ROTC,” file number 307-42, online at the United States National Archives.
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